Feydeau's comedies achieve heights of zany artifice. Characters rush in and out of slamming doors; dialogue is laced with faux French, British or German accents; gyrations in compromising physical positions abound; and confused sexual scenarios reign supreme. Assignations going haywire are this playwright's specialty.

"A Flea in her Ear" was authored in 1907 by Feydeau, a French playwright whose life was less humorous than his writing. He died in a mental hospital in 1921, years after divorcing his wife, a somber end for a dramatist who was a master of farce.

Raymonde prevails on her friend, Lucienne, to write a letter claiming she is an anonymous admirer smitten by Victor Emmanuel, and suggesting a secret rendezvous with him at the Hotel Coq d'Or.

The bait-and-switch scenario is hardly a Feydeau innovation. It was a literary device relied upon by Boccaccio ("The Decameron") and Shakespeare ("All's Well That End's Well"). Except Raymonde intends to show up herself to surprise her husband in an intended act of infidelity.

Subsequently, all hell breaks loose, involving a would-be lover of Raymonde; Tournel (Sean Zackrison), the pistol-waving and irate husband of Lucienne; Carlos (Joel Oramas), a physician; Dr. Finache (Chris Donovan), whose specialty is misdiagnosis; as well as other characters caught up in a delirium of

misbegotten plights.

To top it all, characters confuse Victor Emmanuel and Poche, an employee at the hotel who resembles him. The effect is to keep everyone guessing about who is who.

Feydeau's intent in "A Flea in her Ear," the most performed of his farces, was to fashion real personalities in uproarious situations. The WestConn production is only partially successful in realizing this goal.

Director Sal Trapani's approach is one in which performers represent or indicate humor, rather than being deadly serious about their situations. The choice has its disadvantages. In a different approach, comic aspects emerge out of a more realistic style. As a consequence, performances in the show were often plagued with mugging.

Elizabeth Popiel's set design nicely accommodated the Feydeau atmosphere, with four doors to open and shut in Act I, and five in Act II.

Dan Spring's sound design included pop music that provided a satisfying fusion with Feydeau comic themes.

Jessica Camarero's costume design sometimes tended to be on the garish side. Carlos makes his entrance in a turquoise toreador costume adorned with sparkling sequins, as if he were headed for Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. It's the situation that should be hilarious, not the attire!

Whatever the choice, the Feydeau brand of humor comes through loud and clear.

"A Flea in her Ear" opens Wednesday and runs through March 13 in Western Connecticut State University's Berkshire Theater Stage, Osborne Street, on the midtown campus in Danbury. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on opening night, and at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and March 11 to 13. There are matinees March 7 and 13.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and students; call 203-837-8499 or visit www.wcsu.edu/tickets. On Thursday high school students with an ID will be admitted free.